Chapter Eleven
This night couldn't get any worse as far as Selphie was concerned and she was ready for it to just be over with. What should've been a smooth and stealthily jaunt to Squall's office had become anything but. She was still seething from the stunt Seifer had pulled. What irked Selphie the most was not that he had copped a feel, in fact she half way expected that from him, he was Seifer Almasy after all. No, what she really hated was that she had wanted him to kiss her. She stood there inches from his perfect lips, longing to touch them with her own and in one fowl swoop he had snatched her out of a moment she never should have been lost in. She silently berated herself for wanting it. Stupid, stupid, stupid! What am I thinking! I don't want to kiss him! Seifer is the LAST person I would want to kiss…
Her fury raged on as she relentlessly abused the button of the elevator. She shot a threatening glance over her shoulder and saw Seifer casually strolling up the steps. What an arrogant jerk…
She stood impatiently waiting for the lift to arrive and for Seifer to get his bigheaded self up the stairs. A bell sounded just before the elevator doors slid open to reveal a tall cowboy wearing a very quizzical look as his violet eyes flashed back and forth between Selphie and the tall hooded figure standing behind her. Selphie froze, her night had just gotten much worse. All the other encounters she was able to write off Seifer as Irvine, but there was no fooling Irvine into believing it was himself standing behind her. No matter how stupid she thought he was, he wasn't that stupid. Her mind flew into panic mode as Seifer quietly came to stand beside her and without warning, he grabbed her hand.
She glanced down at her hand for a moment then back up to Seifer who stood facing forward. She couldn't read his shadowed face for any sort of response, but she felt as though he was starring Irvine down. Her eyes drifted back to the lanky cowboy who was now wearing a touch of jealousy.
Irvine stood eyeing Selphie, he let his eyes slip down to the pair holding hands and scoffed, then strode out of the elevator knocking shoulders with Seifer in the process. Irvine shot Selphie a dirty look.
"Figures." Before her mind could silence her mouth she spat back at him.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" He stopped dead in his tracks and stood in silence long enough to make Selphie immediately regret having asked. This time he addressed the hooded Seifer.
"Have fun with her, she's an easy ride." Selphie stood there gaping at Irvine as rage was writhing through her insides. She was a blink or two away from blacking out and murdering Irvine on the spot when she felt the swift release of Seifer's hand. She quickly snapped out of her anger at the sight of Seifer marching down the stairs toward the cowboy.
"Hey, you forgot something…" Irvine cocked his head back over his shoulder only to meet with one furious right hook from the fist of Seifer Almasy. The hit stunned Irvine, rocking him back on his heels as he held his eye socket. Seifer took this as an opportune moment to heave Irvine up over his shoulders.
"What the hell are you doing!? Put me down!" Seifer lugged the tall man over to the railing and gladly complied with the request.
"No problem cowboy." He then hurled Irvine over the railing and into the water below. A cool wave of calm washed over Selphie when she heard the splash. As if nothing had happened Seifer sauntered back up the steps and entered the elevator, where Selphie quietly joined him, leaving Irvine behind to wade around in the pools below.
She found herself relieved that they had made it into the elevator somewhat unscathed but couldn't seem to let go of the Irvine incident. "She's an easy ride…" Like a broken record it played over and over again in her head. Selphie was almost holding her breath, trying to prepare herself for what sort of twisted remark Seifer would have to say about her being an 'easy ride.' That was just the kind of thing Seifer would snatch up and run with. Just when you would think he was about to let it go, he'd bring it back up.
"I hate him, he's such a smug bastard." Selphie blinked up at Seifer. Wait… that's it? No quip about being an 'easy ride'? No remark? Nothing??? "I don't know what you ever saw in that prick to begin with…"
In that moment Selphie felt an innate need to defend the love she had felt for Irvine, but more over powering was this warm feeling. Seifer didn't take a jab at Selphie where there had clearly been a perfect opportunity to do so. Not only that but he came to her rescue, almost like a… she blushed and smiled up at Seifer who hadn't noticed.
The elevator sounded with a ding as it slowed to a stop on the third floor. The doors flashed open reminding Selphie to regain some composure and wipe that silly grin off her face. She swiftly made her way to Squall's office while the slow and heavy steps of Seifer could be heard, then stopping just behind her. Seifer eyed Selphie, awaiting her next move. She let out a nervous breath, it was now or never. She fisted her small hand and gave a polite knock on the thick wooden door. Both waited anxiously for a response and after hearing none Selphie looked back at Seifer and shrugged her shoulders. He rolled his eyes and drew a heavy hand to pound on the door. Again, both listened intently for a sound when they heard a muffled voice through the thick barrier.
"Enter."
Selphie gently pushed the door open to reveal Squall sitting at his desk, completely absorbed by whatever report his eyes were reading. He waved them in without a glance as he continued. Selphie was a wreck as she stood there waiting patiently for Squall to take notice of who was standing with her in his office. Naturally Seifer was the air of apathy, not really caring one way or another what was about to happen.
Finally he finished his report and set it aside. Squall's stormy eyes gazed up at the two who stood before him. He first looked at Selphie, then to the still hooded Seifer, and finally back at Selphie. She fretfully wrung her hands.
"Almasy." Squall's eyes were busy skimming another report.
"Leonhart."
AN: Whooooowee! Has it been a while or what!? Sorry to my fans, I know there are a couple of you out there and I sincerely apologize. I think life caught up with me and when I started this story, I wasn't really sure where I wanted it to go (still don't know exactly). I have been sitting on this chapter for a long time and I know it is kind of a short chapter, but hey, at least I didn't completely abandon the idea right??? Oh and I have another chapter in the works that I hope to post soon... once again, sorry for the hiatus I went on!
